1954 United States Senate election in Montana

The 1954 United States Senate election in Montana took place on November 2, 1954. Incumbent United States Senator James E. Murray, who was first elected to the Senate in a special election in 1934 and was re-elected in 1936, 1942, and 1948, ran for re-election. After winning the Democratic primary against trivial opponents, he advanced to the general election, where he was opposed by Wesley A. D'Ewart, the Republican nominee and the United States Congressman from Montana's 2nd congressional district. A contentious and close election ensued, but ultimately, Murray was able to narrowly win re-election over D'Ewart to a final term in the Senate.

1954 United States Senate election in Montana

← 1948 November 2, 1954 1960 →
 
Nominee James E. Murray Wesley A. D'Ewart
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 114,591 112,863
Percentage 50.38% 49.62%

County results
Murray:      50–60%      60–70%
D'Ewart:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. senator before election

James E. Murray
Democratic

Elected U.S. Senator

James E. Murray
Democratic

Democratic primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

Democratic Party primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic James E. Murray (incumbent) 65,896 86.94%
Democratic Ray E. Gulick 4,961 6.55%
Democratic Sam G. Feezell 4,941 6.52%
Total votes 75,798 100.00%

Republican primary edit

Candidates edit

Results edit

Republican Primary results[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Wesley A. D'Ewart 49,964 82.36%
Republican Robert Yellowtail 10,705 17.64%
Total votes 60,669 100.00%

General election edit

Results edit

United States Senate election in Montana, 1954[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic James E. Murray (incumbent) 114,591 50.38% -6.27%
Republican Wesley A. D'Ewart 112,863 49.62% +6.88%
Majority 1,728 0.76% -13.15%
Turnout 227,454
Democratic hold Swing

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Report of the Official Canvass of the Vote Cast at the Primary Election Held in the State of Montana, July 20, 1954" (PDF). Montana Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 28, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  2. ^ "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 1954" (PDF). Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved July 2, 2014.